Robert Oden Wills

Robert Oden Wills, age 88, of York Township, New Philadelphia, died late Monday afternoon, September 4, 2006, in Park Village Health Care Center at Dover.Born at Conesville, in Coshocton County, Ohio, February 26, 1918, Robert was one of four children reared by his father Pearl Wills and mother Nora Oden Wills. A graduate of Keene High School, Robert began an adventuresome work life in Millersburg, where he met and fell in love with the former Beverley Joyce. The couple eloped and married February 18, 1938 at Greenup, Kentucky.Mr. Wills was a man whose work ethic was second to none. With a passion for working with his hands, Robert could fix just about anything that found its way in front of him Â? from automobiles, to tractors to electric motors. Shortly after his wedding in 1938, Wills went to work for the Standard Oil Company. He quickly gained the admiration of his managers, and before long, he was managing multiple service stations, from Massillon to Canton and one station on North Wooster Avenue in Downtown Dover. Robert liked life in the Tuscarawas valley and in 1947, relocated his family to a home on Rt. 21 between New Philadelphia and Stone Creek Â? where he resided for over fifty years. About the same time, Mr. Wills purchased and operated two filling stations of his own, the former Pure Oil Station on South Broadway at Lockport, and the Sohio station at the corner of Second Street and West High Avenue. In the 1960’s Mr. Wills became affiliated with the former H. C. Spring Electric, where he specialized in electrical work related to refrigeration equipment and other appliance repair. At home, conversation around the dinner table revolved around tractors, and he and his son, Doug, developed a strong bond. When the time did come to set tools aside, and spend time with his family, Tappan Lake was a frequent destination, where the Wills family enjoyed boating together. Over the years memories too many to count were made on the water there, and for members of his family, Tappan Lake will always bring strong memories of Robert. Mr. Wills was a member of Jerusalem Church, and was so fond of his neighbors in the country, that he served as York Township Clerk for nearly thirty years. Despite his busy calendar, Robert and his wife Beverly still found time for one another, and especially enjoyed wintering together later in life at Bonita Springs, on Florida’s Western Shore. After celebrating their sixty-fifth wedding anniversary together in February, 2003 Â? Beverly’s health deteriorated, and in October, 2003 Robert was widowed. Since then, Robert had relocated to Park Village Assisted Living, where he made many friends and kept in daily touch with his close-knit family that includes his daughter, Adelia, and her husband, Larry Hobart of Stone Creek, and son, Doug Wills and his wife Barbara of New Philadelphia. A son and daughter-in-law, Robert Clifton Wills and Carol, died tragically together in an automobile accident in 1989.He’ll be sadly missed by his six grandchildren Stephen Spring, Pamela Spring and her husband Ron Feldeisen, Ronald Beal and his wife Teresa, David Wills and Greg Wills and his wife Diana and especially Linda Spring, who resided nearby, and who enjoyed regular visits with her grandfather. Sixteen great-grandchildren, a brother, Cameron Wills of Coshocton, a sister-in-law, Virginia Lippel of Canton, and numerous nieces and nephews complete the family. In addition to his parents, wife, son and daughter-in-law, Mr. Wills was preceded in death by a sister, Olive Norman, a brother, Theron Wills, and a special friend whom he met while residing at Park Village, Elizabeth McKinley. Friends are invited to call Wednesday, September 6, from 2PM Â? 4PM and from 6PM Â? 8PM in the Linn-Hert-Geib Funeral Home & Crematory at New Philadelphia. The Rev. Dr. Terry Downin will lead the Wills funeral Thursday morning, September 7 at 10:30 in the funeral home’s chapel. Burial will follow in Evergreen Burial Park. Following the committal service, a reception will be given for family and friends in the Geib Family Center, adjacent to the funeral home. The family requests that memorial contributions be made to the York Township Volunteer Fire Department, 1576 Stonecreek Road SW, New Philadelphia OH 44663.